Discover 15 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Carlisle (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle Castle, and Brunton Park. Also, be sure to include Tullie House in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Carlisle (England).
Table of Contents
Carlisle Cathedral
Medieval cathedral with daily services. Carlisle Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle in Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It was founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133.
Carlisle is the second smallest of England's ancient cathedrals. Its notable features include figurative stone carving, a set of medieval choir stalls and the largest window in the Flowing Decorated Gothic style in England.[1]
Address: 7 Abbey St, CA3 8TZ Carlisle
Carlisle Castle
Grand 12th-century fortress and prison. Carlisle Castle is in Carlisle, in the English county of Cumbria, near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall. The castle is over 900 years old and has been the scene of many historical episodes in British history. Given the proximity of Carlisle to the border between England and Scotland, it has been the centre of many wars and invasions. During the Jacobite Rising of 1745–6, Carlisle became the last English fortress to undergo a siege. The castle was listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument on 7 August 1996.
Today the property is managed by English Heritage and is open to the public. Until recently the castle was the administrative headquarters of the former King's Own Royal Border Regiment. Until 2019 it was the county headquarters to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. A museum to the regiment is within the castle walls.[2]
Address: Castle Way, CA3 8UT Carlisle
Brunton Park
Stadium in Carlisle, England. Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United. It is situated in the city of Carlisle and has a certified capacity of 17,949. The ground opened in 1909. Brunton Park's grandstand burned down in 1953 and the stadium flooded completely in 2005 and again in 2015.
Brunton Park is split into four separate stands; Warwick Road End, East Stand, Main (West) Stand and the Petteril End, which remains closed unless exceptionally large crowds are in attendance.
Brunton Park is the largest football stadium in England which is not all-seated. In 2011, Carlisle United announced plans to move away from Brunton Park to a 12,000 capacity all-seater stadium.
Before the 2012–13 season Cumbria County Council inspected Brunton Park and they deemed that certain areas of the stadium were unsafe. As a result, they reduced the capacity to 17,001 for the forthcoming season.[3]
Address: Brunton Park Warwick Road, CA1 1LL Carlisle
Tullie House
Museum in Carlisle, England. Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is a museum in Carlisle, England. Opened by the Carlisle Corporation in 1893, the original building is a converted Jacobean mansion, with extensions added when it was converted. At first the building contained the museum and also a library, an art school and a technical school.
The building, including the extensions, is a Grade I listed building, and the wall, gates and railings in front of the house are separately Grade I listed.
The two schools were moved in the 1950s and the library in 1986. The museum expanded into the city Guildhall in 1980 and with new space available from 1986 it underwent an extensive redevelopment over 1989–90 and again in 2000–01.
Since May 2011 the museum has been an independent charitable trust, the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust. It is one of the three members of the Cumbria Museum Consortium, along with Lakeland Arts and the Wordsworth Trust. In 2012–15 and 2015–18 this consortium was one of the 21 museums or consortia (16 in the earlier period) to be funded by Arts Council England as "Major Partner Museums".[4]
Address: Castle St., CA3 8PT Carlisle
Talkin Tarn
Country park in Brampton, England. Talkin Tarn is a glacial lake and country park near Brampton, Cumbria, England. The lake is a kettle hole lake, formed 10,000 years ago by mass glacial action. Situated just 20 minutes from Carlisle by road, or a short train journey via Brampton Junction, this is a popular venue for families and local people.
Talkin Tarn Country Park is owned and maintained by Carlisle City Council. It is home to the Boat House Tea Rooms, Brampton Sailing Club, and Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club. The profits from the Tea Rooms and the pay and display car parking are reinvested in the upkeep and improvement of the site.
Rowing is an activity at Talkin Tarn. The rowing club, Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club, celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2009. Rowing races were first held on Talkin Tarn in the 1850s, and the Rowing Club was formed in 1859 by local townsfolk, several descendants of whom still live in the area. It is the oldest rowing club in the North of England, with the exception of Tyne Rowing Club, and is the 14th oldest non-university club in the country. Talkin Tarn Annual Regatta has grown considerably in recent years from a total entry of 20 in 1946 and 97 in 1988 to what it is today – very successful and one of the largest one-day regattas outside of London with total entries now in excess of 400.
Research on climate change carried out at Talkin Tarn was published in 2004.
Old buckles, stone axes, and urns have been found in the area.[5]
Carlisle Civic Centre
Carlisle Civic Centre is a municipal building in the Rickergate, Carlisle, England. It is the headquarters of Carlisle City Council.[6]
Address: Rickergate, Carlisle
St Kentigern's Church
Place of worship in Caldbeck, England. St Kentigern's Church, is in the village of Caldbeck, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Carlisle, the archdeaconry of Carlisle and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is dedicated to Saint Kentigern, whose alternative name is Saint Mungo; hence the church's alternative title of Caldbeck, St Mungo.[7]
Carlisle city walls
Carlisle city walls were a defensive structure surrounding the centre of Carlisle, Cumbria. The city walls ran from Carlisle Castle in the north-west of the city to The Citadel in the south-east. Between these points, the city was protected by the former North and East Walls and the West Walls which remain largely intact. The line of the walls can still be followed with the exception of the southernmost end of the West Wall which has been built over. The perimeter, including the castle, is approximately 2.2 kilometres which is comparable to Southampton town walls but less than Chester city walls.[8]
Cumbria House
Cumbria House is a municipal building in the Botchergate area of Carlisle, England. It is the headquarters of Cumbria County Council.[9]
Address: 117 Botchergate, Carlisle
Solway Aviation Museum
Museum in England. The Solway Aviation Museum is an independently run aircraft museum located at Carlisle Lake District Airport in Cumbria.
It is closed during 2020 on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]
Address: Block B Aviation House, CA6 4NW Carlisle
Carlisle Market Hall
Carlisle Market Hall is a market hall located in Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It was built between 1887-1889 for Carlisle Corporation by Arthur Cawston and Joseph Graham, both of Westminster, with ironwork manufactured by Cowans, Sheldon & Company. It is one of the few covered Victorian markets remaining in the country. It has been used as a concert venue; notable past performers include Thin Lizzy, Gillan, Status Quo, Uriah Heep, Motörhead, Rory Gallagher, Iron Maiden, Genesis, AC/DC, The Who and Gene Vincent.
The market was redeveloped in the 1990s with the number of stalls reduced and one of the two entrances to Scotch Street closed off. The stalls are now located in the northern half (facing West Tower Street) of the hall while the rest of the building (facing Fisher Street) was at first converted into an arcade of small retail units which were never fully occupied and then replaced with a branch of Wilko on the ground floor and TK Maxx above.[11]
Address: Scotch St, CA3 8QX Carlisle
Carlisle Tithe Barn
Carlisle Tithe Barn is an historic building in Carlisle, Cumbria. It is a Grade I listed building, listed on 1 June 1949.[12]
Cumbria's Museum of Military Life
Specialty museum, Museum
Address: The Castle, CA3 8UR Carlisle
Our Lady and St Joseph's Church
Catholic church in Carlisle, England. Our Lady and St Joseph's Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Carlisle, Cumbria. The church is one of seven churches that make up the city and district parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Carlisle. It was built from 1891 to 1893. It is situated on the junction of Warwick Road and Warwick Square in the centre of the city. The church is a Grade II listed building.[13]
Address: Warwick Rd, CA1 1LB Carlisle
Dixon's Chimney and Shaddon Mill
Shaddon Mill is a former cotton mill in Carlisle, Cumbria, England. Both the mill and its 290 feet tall chimney, named Dixon's Chimney after its builder, Peter Dixon, are Grade II listed buildings.[14]